Rhone-poulenc Specialites Chimiques

Michel Reppelin

Laurent Seigneurin

Roland Jacques

Michel Desbois

An improved fluorinated siliceous catalyst, well adapted for the catalytic synthesis of aromatic/aliphatic nitriles from their corresponding formamides, formanilides or amides, is comprised of a plurality of silica particulates, the specific surface of which ranging from about 200 to about 300 m.sup.2 /g, having a total pore volume ranging from about 1 to about 1.5 cm.sup.3 /g, with an average pore diameter ranging from about 100 to about 200 .ANG., having an exchange pH of less than about 3, and with the fluorine content thereof bonded to the silica, expressed in F.sup.31 , ranging from about 0.05 to about 2% by weight based upon the silica, and the sodium content thereof, expressed as Na.sub.2 O, being less than about 1% by weight, also based upon the silica.

Fluorinated silica catalyst and preparation of aromatic/aliphatic

An improved fluorinated siliceous catalyst, well adapted for the catalytic synthesis of aromatic/aliphatic nitriles from their corresponding formamides, formanilides or amides, is comprised of a plurality of silica particulates, the specific surface of which ranging from about 200 to about 300 m.sup.2 /g, having a total pore volume ranging from about 1 to about 1.5 cm.sup.3 /g, with an average pore diameter ranging from about 100 to about 200 .ANG., having an exchange pH of less than about 3, and with the fluorine content thereof bonded to the silica, expressed in F.sup.-, ranging from about 0.05 to about 2% by weight based upon the silica, and the sodium content thereof, expressed as Na.sub.2 O, being less than about 1% by weight, also based upon the silica.

The N-benzylimides having the structural formula: ##STR1## wherein Ar comprises a benzene radical and R.sub.1 is an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon, are prepared in good yield by reacting a compound having the structural formula:

Preparation of N-benzylimides

Aromatic/aliphatic nitriles having the formula:

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Michel Reppelin